The extension of the winter truce

The winter truce is a measure which usually results in the postponement of eviction from 1st November to 31st March. This measure enables families in precarious situations not to be put out onto the street during the winter period.

This truce was therefore supposed to end on 1st April 2020, but on 12th March last, President Emmanuel Macron announced that this date would be extended by 2 months, in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic. The following day, the Housing Minister Julien Denormandie thus stated that “there will be no evictions […], there will be no use of force.” The state is thus committing to compensating landlords during this period, to guarantee the implementation of this measure.

The Minister thus states that this measure will help protect 4,000 to 5,000 families, giving them more time, and preventing them from ending up on the street during the health crisis.

Furthermore, 14,000 emergency accommodation places which were due to close at the end of March are ultimately being maintained. Good news for the homeless, who are among the most exposed to the virus. This initiative is widely welcomed by associations fighting exclusion such as the Abbé Pierre Foundation, which tweeted: “It’s not yet a miracle for the most vulnerable, but it’s a good decision. The Foundation @Abbe Pierre, alongside a few others, campaigned for this measure. It can only be satisfied with it.” Indeed, the associations concerned exerted considerable pressure on the government to take action towards the most disadvantaged.

This measure is temporary and could see modifications in the months to come, according to the evolution of the spread of the virus.